“I will raise up for them a Prophet like [Moses]…”

                 Moses was near the end of his life.  He had successfully lead the Jews out of Egypt and safely crossed the Red Sea.  He witnessed the destruction of Pharaoh’s army and watched as the Lord provided manna day in and day out.  He received the law from God and saw Him punish the golden calf idolaters.  He grieved as members of his generation died off, some every day, over their 40-year wanderings.  Now he was writing Deuteronomy, which literally means “second law,” for the new generation coming up that would move into and take over the Promised Land.  They would have to be ready to fight and conquer.  And he knew he would not be with them.  Thus, this reminder for the new generation.

Most of this younger group didn’t know him quite as well as his rapidly perishing peers.  Joshua was the rare exception.  And so he writes and reiterates all that they have learned from God’s revelation to that point.  But God includes a new parallel not quite seen before, because Moses’ job will soon be finished and comparisons can now be made.  Moses declared in 18:15, “ ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren.  Him you shall hear…’ ”  What an honor!  The Messiah compared to Moses?!  And He is called “Prophet” for the first time in Scripture because of Moses’ faithfulness!  What a tribute!

The fact that God instituted the office of prophet is a testament to man’s frailty and weakness.

We read in verse 16 the fear in each of God’s people:  “Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.”  When God spoke, there were “the thunderings,  the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking” (Exodus 20:18).  It was a terrifying scene.  I remember once when the electric transformer on the utility pole in our back yard failed just past midnight.  I watched the power company worker as he replaced the bad parts with new ones.  Then he came down and from the ground was going to turn on a switch in the transformer with a long fiberglass pole.  “Stand back,” he said, “there’s going to be loud bang and a bright flash of light.”  I said, “Oh, I’m OK.  Go ahead and let her rip!”  “I’m telling you, stand back!” he insisted.  “Let her rip!  I’m OK,” I replied.  I had never seen this before, so I braced myself.  I separated my feet, locked my knees, folded my arms across my chest, and fixed my gaze on the transformer.  The worker took his pole and turned on the switch.  BANG!!  What a flash of light!  After that, I immediately picked myself off the ground – literally shaking from the explosion – brushed myself off and hurried inside!  And that was just a little transformer.  Imagine a whole mountain…

A prophet’s job is summarized in the latter portion of verse 18.  He is the one in God “will put [His] words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.”  This was true of Christ, and it was to be true of every other prophet who spoke for God.  It certainly was true of Moses; or else the comparison would not have been made.  Sure, Moses wasn’t perfect.  He had character flaws like anyone else.  He even lost his temper on occasion.  That was why he and his brother Aaron were forbidden to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 20:7-12).

But as a prophet Moses was faithful.  Every time he received God’s word he faithfully communicated it to the people.  The writer of Hebrews also draws a comparison between Moses and Christ.  In 3:2, speaking of Jesus, he writes, “who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house.”  What a compliment!  What a testimony!  In the summary of Moses’ life, from God’s perspective, no negatives are mentioned, just the positives.  Truly the grace of God at work!

But this is where the comparison stops.  The next verse in Hebrews says, “For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house.”  Jesus receives more glory not only because he was faithful with God’s word, like Moses, but He Himself is God’s Word (John 1:1)!

What will people say about you at the end of your life?  Will they see Christ in you, like Moses?